Chest

Question 1

Standard Projections

Answer 1

PA

Lateral

Question 2

PA Chest

positioning

CR

Angle

FFD

kVp

mAs

Answer 2

• 35X43cm imaging plate
• Patient standing facing the bucky
• Hands on hips or around bucky and rotate
shoulders forward, chin slightly raised
• Chest in contact with bucky
• Align midsagittal plane to center of bucky
• Expose on inspiration
• Align the x-ray tube to the bucky
• Imaging plate 3cm above AC joints
• Central ray perpendicular to imaging plate
• Center to T7 in midsagittal plane
• Collimate on four sides to outer margins of
chest
• FFD 180cm
• kVp 110 (range 100-120)
• mAs 2-10 or AEC two lateral chambers
• Broad focus, grid

Question 3

PA chest criteria

Answer 3

Regional anatomy included – both lungs
from apices to costophrenic angles and
ribs, including soft tissue
• No rotation – symmetry
– Sternal ends of clavicles equidistant from
vertebral column
– Trachea in midline
– Distance from vertebral column to lateral
border of ribs equidistant on each side
• Scapulae projected outside lung fields
• Heart and diaphragm show sharp outlines
• 5cm of lung apex above clavicles
• 10 posterior ribs seen above diaphragm
• Faint shadow of ribs and vertebrae seen
through heart shadow
• Density and contrast optimal to visualise
bone & soft tissue

Question 4

Supine AP chest considerations

Answer 4

change exposure due to closer FFD

Angle beam slightly to patients feet.

Question 5

Lateral Chest

positioning

CR

Angle

FFD

kVp

mAs

Answer 5

35X43cm imaging plate
• Patient standing with left side of body against bucky
• Hands on head
• Shoulder in contact with bucky
• Bend patient forward a little
• Chin up
• Midsagittal plane parallel to film
• Posterior ribs superimposed
• Expose on inspiration
• Align the x-ray tube to the bucky
• Imaging plate 3cm above AC joints
• Central ray perpendicular to imaging plate
• Center to T7 in midaxillary line
• Collimate on four sides to outer margins of chest
• FFD 180cm
• kVp 110
• mAs 15-30 or AEC central chamber
• Broad focus, grid

Question 6

LAteral Chest criteria

Answer 6

Regional anatomy included – both
lungs from apices to costophrenic
angles and ribs, including soft tissue
• Ribs posterior to vertebral column
superimposed
• No arm shadow superimposing lung
• Long axis of lung fields vertical
• Lateral sternum
• Thoracic spine intervertebral disc
spaces open
• Diaphragm shows sharp outline
• Density and contrast optimal to
visualise bone & soft tissue